Murder accused ‘stomped on victim’s throat and killed her two-year-old’, court hears

A MOTHER’S ex-partner allegedly killed her by crushing her windpipe before murdering her two-year-old and leaving the child’s body in a suitcase, a court heard.

THE lover of a young mother allegedly killed her by stomping on her throat and crushing her windpipe before he suffocated her two-year-old and left the child’s remains in a suitcase.

Brutal details of the police case against Daniel James Holdom were heard for the first time on Thursday as he was committed to stand trial for murdering Karlie Pearce-Stevenson and her daughter Khandalyce in late 2008.

He allegedly took photographs of Ms Pearce-Stevenson’s body and kept the “graphic” images as a “trophy of sorts”, Sydney’s Central Local Court was told.

The 42-year-old has pleaded not guilty to both murders.

Ms Pearce-Stevenson, 20, was found in the notorious Belanglo State Forest — infamous for its link to the killing spree of backpacker murderer Ivan Milat — while Khandalyce’s remains were discovered 1200 kilometres away in a suitcase next to a South Australian highway.

Victims Karlie Pearce-Stevenson and her daughter Khandalyce Pearce, 2.

Police allege Holdom killed Khandalyce close to Wagga Wagga while on the way to South Australia on either December 19 or 20, 2008. Her mother was killed on December 14.

It was only after a Crimestoppers tip-off that police identified the little girl — which then led to the sensational discovery of Ms Pearce-Stevenson’s identity.

The remains of the mother were found in 2010 and was known as the “Belanglo Angel” for five years until she was finally identified.

Crown prosecutor Victoria Engel told the hearing the Crown relied on “overwhelming” circumstantial evidence and direct admissions made by Holdom.

Daniel Holdom allegedly made “graphic admissions” to two people about killing the pair.

The identities of the people Holdom allegedly made “graphic admissions” to are suppressed for their own safety as they would give evidence against him at his trial.

Ms Engel said the evidence by witnesses would be presented that detailed the alleged admissions made by Holdom, including how the mother and daughter were killed and the state their bodies were left in.

The court heard a post-mortem examination of Ms Pearce-Stevenson was consistent with one of the alleged admissions Holdom made about the way he killed Ms Pearce-Stevenson — by stomping on her throat and crushing her windpipe.

He also took photographs of her body and kept them as a “trophy”, Ms Engel said.

Ms Engel said Holdom later told police “deliberate lies” to cover up his involvement in the murders.

Ms Pearce-Stevenson and daughter Khandalyce.

Khandalyce Stevenson.

She said Holdom was the last person seen with Ms Pearce-Stevenson alive on December 14, 2008. Police have tracked the pair’s mobile phones from their home in the ACT to the Belanglo Forest. It was there police say he killed her.

Ms Engel said: “The evidence including photographing her body ... as a trophy of sorts, was indicative of an intention to kill.”

Ms Pearce-Stevenson was never seen again. The Crown case is Holdom was then seen with Khandalyce on December 19, 2008 near Wagga Wagga, where they checked into a hotel.

He had told friends in the ACT he was returning Khandalyce to her grandmother after claiming Ms Pearce-Stevenson abandoned her.

Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson is believed to have been murdered on December 14, 2008.

But Ms Engel said he never had “any intention” of returning Khandalyce “alive” to her family as that would inevitably lead to questions about where Ms Pearce-Stevenson was.

At Wagga Wagga he purchased items that were later linked to the suitcase her body was found in.

The prosecution alleges when Holdom checked out of the hotel he was alone.

A witness said to police Holdom told them he killed the little girl by suffocating her.

The witness wrote in her statement that “the accused over time made certain admissions to her that he had murdered Karlie ... (He) stomped on her body and crushed her windpipe. He had killed Khandalyce by suffocating her … and had thrown her body on the side of a highway”.

After the murders, Holdom allegedly used Ms Pearce Stevenson’s credit cards and accessed $71,000 of her Centrelink benefits.

Daniel James Holdom will stand trial for murder.

In 2009 Ms Pearce-Stevenson’s mother Colleen Povey reported both her daughter and granddaughter missing to Northern Territory Police. Holdom told officers he’d seen them in February that year.

Soon after the police search for the pair, Ms Povey received calls and texts from her daughter’s phone number. One of those asked for money to be sent so they could return home to visit, so Ms Povey sent 4500 to her daughter’s account.

It will be alleged at trial that one of the calls to Ms Povey was made from close to the home of Holdom’s partner.

Holdom, who was representing himself at the hearing, answered: “No your honour,” when asked if he wanted to say anything after the allegations against him were put to the court.

The model of suitcase Khandalyce Stevenson’s remains were found in.

Magistrate Les Mabbutt said the most important piece of evidence were photos allegedly taken by Holdom of Ms Pearce-Stevenson at the time of her death.

He was “satisfied on both charges the prosecution case was capable of satisfying a jury the accused murdered Khandalyce and Karlie”.

“The accused had a motive, a financial motive to kill Karlie and get access to her child,” Mr Mabbutt said.

He remanded Holdom in custody to appear in the NSW Supreme Court on October 6 for arraignment.

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